Silverware carrier for dishwashing apparatus



Feb. 20, 1968 R. ETTLINGER 3,369,724

SILVERWARE CARRIER FOR DISHWASHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 12, 1966 5Sheets-Sheet l Firs; Z

INVENTOI? FIG, 2

Feb. 20, 1968 R. ETTLINGER SILVERWARE CARRIER FOR DISHWASHING APPARATUSFiled Sept. 12, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 20, 1968 I R. ETTLINGER3,369,724

SILVERWARE CARRIER FOR DISHWASHING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 12, 1966 5Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG, 8

HG J0 IZ HG,

United States Patent 3,369,724 SILVERWARE CARRIER FOR DISHWASHINGAPPARATUS Ralph Ettlinger, 1370 Lincoln Ave. S., Highland Park, Ill.60035 Filed Sept. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 578,638 8 Claims. (Cl. 224-48)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A silverware carrier for a dishwashingapparatus comprising a frame having a plurality of openings its topsurface. Silverware receptacles comprising cups for verticallysupporting silverware are adapted to be received in said openings. Theopenings are provided with four corners defining right angles to receiverectangular receptacles while outwardly curved side wall portions areprovided intermediate the corners so that the openings may alternativelyreceive receptacles of substantially circular cross section.

A U-shaped handle is normally separated from the carrier so that acompact arrangement for storage and shipment will be provided. Thehandle includes bifurcated ends so that it can be connected to thecarrier by pressing the ends into additional openings defined by thecarrier. The bifurcated ends include enlarged end sections Whereby thehandles can be snapped into locking engagement with the carrier.

Specification This invention relates to a silverware carrier for adishwashing apparatus. The carrier of this invention is particularlyuseful in connection with operations which involve the handling of largeamounts of flatware, such as restaurant operations.

The use of dishwashing machines has become more and more popular,particularly in restaurants andin similar facilities handling largenumbers of ware. The dishwashing machines generally operate by providingconveyors which transport china, glass, and silverware through themachine. Spray heads provide the necessary washing water, and detergentsare dispensed within the machine so that the ware can all be washedwithout any handling -by individuals. Racks :are provided for holdingthe dishes and glasses and, in many cases, the racks can be removed fromthe machines and employed for stacking and carrying after the completionof a washing operation.

The instant invention is particularly concerned with a new carrierconstruction which is ideally suited for use in conjunction withoperations handling large numbers of ware. The particular arrangement ofthis invention provides an extremely el'ficient manner for loading ofsilverware; forachieving the best possible washing action and forholding to a minimum the number of steps required for achieving a properwashing operation.

In accordance with prior art concepts, silverware was often placed on aflat rack and transported in a horizontal position through a dishwashingmachine. In such instances, there is a substantial tendency for piecesof the silverware to rest on top of other pieces whereby masking occursand are thus not exposed to the washing fluids.

Cylinders and other receptacles have been employed for holdingsilverware wherein the silverware stands upright within the cylinders.This improves the cleaning operation; however, in many instances, thesilverware is removed from the cylinders by grabbing the silverware withthe hand. Other types of holders permit dumping of the silverware fromthe receptacles; however, this is objectionable in that wear and tear onthe silverware is significant.

It is an object of this invention to provide a silverware 3,359,724Patented Feb. 20, 1968 carrier for a dishwashing apparatus whichovercomes various problems encountered with prior art carriers.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a silverwarecarrier which can be economically manufactured and which can be shippedand stored in a highly eflici'ent manner.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a silverwarecarrier which is characterized by versatility in that a variety ofindividual silverware receptacles can be associated with the carrier,and wherein the silverware is adapted to be held by the receptacles in amanner such that efiicient washing can be accomplished while at the sametime permitting removal and handling of the silverware without tendencytoward unnecessary scratching of the silverware.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter andfor purposes of illustration 'but not of limitation, specificembodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a silverware carrier characterized by thefeatures of this inventon;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation and partial sectional view taken about theline 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of an alternative form of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of a carrier associated with a handleconstruction employed in combination with the carrier;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating an end of the handleconstruction;

FIGURE 6 is a dilTerent fragmentary view of the end of the handleconstruction;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating locking of thehandle to a carrier;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view illustrating a rack constructionadapted to be employed in association with a carrier of the typecontemplated :by this invention;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken about the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view taken from the opposite side of therack construction of FIGURE 8.;

FIGURE 11 is a schematic illustration indicating the manner in which thecarriers are associated with the rack means; and,

FIGURE 12 is an elevational view illustrating the manner in which theframe portion of the carrier is adapted to be stacked for shipping andstorage.

The construction of this invention generally comprises a silvenwarecarrier and dispenser adapted to be used in association with adishwashing apparatus. The carrier comprises a frame portion and aplurality of openings are defined by the frame portion for removablyreceiving silverware receptacles. These receptacles are gravitationallysupported by the carrier.

The construction may also include a handle portion which is adapted tobe snapped into openings defined by the frame portion. The instantinvention contemplates an arrangement wherein a plurality of thecarriers are stacked together for shipping and storage with the handlesbeing handled separately. When the user receives the parts of thecarrier, the handles can be snapped into place in a simple operationwhereby the carriers will be all ready for use. With this arrangement,problems involved with bulky constructions, particularly with respect toshipping and storage, are eliminated.

The construction of this invention may also be employed for providing acounter-type dispenser. In this arrangement, carriers of the typedescribed are associated with a rack construction which provides supportfor the carriers. The rack construction also provides handle meanswhereby carriers associated with such rack means can 3 be placeddirectly on a counter-top so that silverware can be removed therefrom.With this arrangement, it is not necessary to transfer the silverwarereceptacles from the carrier to counter-top receiving openings.

FIGURES l and 2 illustrate a carrier which comprises a frame portion 12and a handle 14. The frame portion includes an upper surface 16 anddownwardly extending and outwardly flared side walls 18. Openings 20 aredefined by the frame for receiving silverware holding receptacles 22.

The receptacles 22 are cupshaped, and an outwardly extending lip 24- isformed about the periphery of the top of the receptacles. This lipengages portions of the upper surface 16 which outline the openings 20whereby the receptacles 22 are gravitationally held by the construction.

It will be noted that the openings 20 comprise four corners 26 whichdefine right angles. Intermediate the corners, the openings definecurved portions 28. With this arrangement, the openings 20 willaccommodate rectangularly shaped silverware receptacles 22 as Well ascylindrically shaped receptacles. Thus, the receptacles can bemanufactured to suit the wishes of a customer while the carriers can bemade from a single molding arrangement for accommodating either type ofreceptacle.

The carrier shown in FIGURE 1 includes a pair of ribs 30 which extendtransversely across the carrier. These ribs act to reinforce the carrieragainst bending movements. An additional rib 32 extends longitudinallyof the carrier to resist bending movement in that direction.

The rib 32 is interrupted by a plurality of openings 34. These openingsare adapted to receive the ends 36 of the handle portion 14. As shown inFIGURES 5-7, the ends of the handle comprise tapered shank portionswhich terminate in an enlarged end section 38. The handle ends define aslot 40, and this bifurcated arrangement provides flexibility in theends.

As best shown in FIGURE 7, the ends are adapted to be pressed throughthe openings 34, and when the end sections 38 pass through the openings,the end section will snap into place to lock the handles.

An alternative form of the invention provides for the use of a wedgemember 42 which is adapted to be pressed into the slot 40 after thehandle ends have been snapped into position. This locks the handle endsand insures against accidental removal. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, thewedge 42 can be molded integrally with the handle and held inassociation therewith by means of a cord of plastic 44. The user of theconstruction can simply cut off the wedge 42 and strip 44 for purposesof assembling the carrier. I

FIGURE 12 illustrates the compact arrangement assumed by a plurality ofcarrier frames 12 when they are stacked together. As noted, the sidewalls of the frames are flared outwardly so that the frames will fittogether. Obviously, the handles 14 can be packed with the frameswithout assembly so that a highly desirable arrangement is provided forstorage and shipping.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate a modified version 50 of the constructionwherein four openings 20 are provided for receptacles 22. It will benoted that openings 34 are provided for the handle 14 whereby the handlecan be snapped into place in the same manner as described with referenceto the carrier 10.

The carrier 59 is adapted to be manufactured by using the same moldparts as are used in the production of the carrier 10. It will be notedthat the construction 50 merely involves the elimination of the centralportion of the carrier 10. A mold construction can readily bemanufactured wherein a central portion is removable so that the twoouter portions can be joined together to form the carrier 59. In thisconnection, it is of no consequence that each construction includes twoextra openings 34.

In the use of the carrier described, the receptacles are adapted to beplaced in the carrier whereby a plurality of receptacles can be movedfrom place to place for load ing purposes. The carrier itself could belocated on conveyor means on a dishwashing apparatus, or the carrier canbe set on a flat tray in the apparatus. In this connec-- tion, it willbe noted that the bottoms of the individual receptacles will rest on thetray surface while the carrier will move downwardly and also rest on thetray surface. The side walls of the carrier are preferably three or fourinches in height and this lowering action tends to expose all thesilverware for washing while at the same time, providing an easy meansfor removing the silverware from the dishwashing apparatus since thecarrier can simply be lifted off the tray at the end of the washingcycle. Thereafter, the individual receptacles can be carried in thecarrier to a place of use.

The described operation obviously involves a great deal of efliciencysince the carrier handles the silverware from the time of initialplacement in the receptacles, and without any additional handlingthrough the washing cycle to the time of next use.

The construction is also ideal from the standpoint of manufacturingprocedures since a relatively small amount of inexpensive materials canbe employed. Obviously, a great deal of improvement is achieved whencomparing the carrier with wire basket types requiring a great amount ofmaterial and costly welding operations during assembly. Polypropylenecomprises an ideal material for producing the carriers in a one-stepmolding operation. As previously noted, the ability to change thecarrier from a four to a six receptacle unit by means of a simplealteration of a mold is of prime importance.

In the arrangement shown in FIGURES 8 through 11, a carrier is adaptedto be associated with rack means 102. The rack means comprise moldedvertically disposed members having an opening 104 whereby an upper bar106 of the rack means provides a handle arrangement. The horizontzallydisposed bottom bar 108 provides leg means for supporting the rackmeans.

FIGURE 9 illustrates the manner in which carriers 100 can be associatedwith the rack means. Such carriers define solid side wall portions 110which flare outwardly. The bottom edges 112 of these Walls are adaptedto rest on a flange 114 which extends angularly across the rack means102. Protruding elements 116 define central openings whereby screws 118can be employed for securing the carriers to the rack means. As shown inFIGURE 11, a pair of these rack means are employed whereby the carrierscan be completely supported. It will be noted that the carriers aredisposed at an angle due to the position of the protrusions 116 and theflange 114. This provides better access to silverware when receptaclesare placed in the rack means. Obviously, the openings for thereceptacles as well as other features of the rack means can be inaccordance with the above description.

The arrangement of FIGURES 8 through 11 provides an ideal counter-topdispenser in accordance with accomplishing the other features of thisinvention. It will be appreciated that the assembled rack means andcarrier can be loaded at a dishwashing apparatus and then transported toa counter-top for dispensing of the silverware. There is no need toprovide for any transfer of the receptacles to openings in a counter-topwhich are usually provided for holding such receptacles. It will also beapparent that the arrangement described actually provides a unit whichcan be employed for picking up silverware before washing and fortransporting the silverware through a dishwashing apparatus. In thisinstance, the assembly becomes the only structure necessary for thehandling of silverware.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be madein the construction of this invention without departing from the spiritthereof particularly as defined in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a dishwashing apparatus, the improvement comprising a silverwarecarrier, said carrier comprising a frame, a plurality of first openingsin said frame for removably receiving silverware receptacles, saidcarrier defining an upper surface including portions surrounding theperiphery of said openings, means defined by said silverware receptaclesfor engaging said upper surface portions whereby said receptacles aregravitationally supported in said openings, and wherein said carrierincludes a handle, additional openings defined by said carrier forreceiving the ends of said handle, said ends of said handles beingbifurcated and wherein the handles are formed of a resil ient materialwhereby the handles can be forced through said additional openings, andincluding an enlarged end section defined by the handles whereby thehandles are snapped into locking engagement with said additionalopenings after the enlarged end sections pass completely through theadditional openings, and including wedge members adapted to be pressedinto the open ends defined by the bifurcated ends of the handles toassist in locking the handl s to the frames, said wedge members beingmolded integrally with said handles, the wedge members being attached tothe handles by means of a slender strip of material, said wedge membersbeing adapted to be separated from said handle prior to use after whichsaid strip of material can be removed from the handles.

2. In a dishwashing apparatus, the improvement comprising a silverwarecarrier for removably receiving a plurality of silverware receptacles,said receptacles each comprising a cup adapted to vertically supportsilverware therein, said carrier comprising a frame having a substantially flat upper surface, a plurality of first openings in saidupper surface for receiving said receptacles with remaining portions ofsaid upper surface surrounding the periphery of said openings, saidsilverware receptacles including outwardly extending lips for engagingsaid upper surface portions whereby said receptacles are gravitationallysupported in said openings, said first openings comprising four cornersdefining right angles whereby rectangular receptacles can be received inthe openings, and wherein said first openings define outwardly curvedside wall portions intermediate the respective corners wherebyreceptacles having a substantially circular cross section can bereceived in said openings, and wherein said carrier includes a U-shapedhandle, additional openings defined by said carrier for receiving theends of said handle, said ends of said handle being snapped into placewithin said additional openings upon assembly of the carrier whereby thehandle and carrier can be stored and shipped in a compact fashion priorto such assembly, and said ends of said handles being bifurcated andwherein the handles are formed of a resilient material whereby thehandles can be forced through said additional openings, and including anenlarged end section defined by the handles whereby the handles aresnapped into locking engagement with said additional openings after theenlarged end sections pass completely through the additional openings.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said frame definesexterior side walls extending downwardly and outwardly from said uppersurface whereby a hollow interior is defined between the side Walls,said frames being adapted to be stacked together with the outwardlyflared side walls of an upper frame fitting around the side walls of alower frame to thereby achieve a nesting relationship whereby a compactassembly is secured for storage and shipping purposes.

4. In a construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said frame isformed of molded plastic, and wherein four of said first openings areformed in the frame during the molding operation.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 4 wherein an insert isincluded in the molds employed in said molding operation, said insertcomprising a central mold section located intermediate the mold sectionsforming said four openings, said central mold section including meansfor forming two central openings in a position between the firstmentioned openings.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said receptaclescomprise cup-like members defining an outwardly extending lip aroundtheir peripheries, said lip being adapted to rest on said upper surfacefor gravitationally holding the receptacles in position.

7. A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein rib members extendlongitudinally and transversely along the under surface of said framefor reinforcement of the frame.

8. A construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein the additionalopenings for receiving the end of said handles are formed in the moldsections forming said four openings, two of said additional openingsbeing formed in spaced-apart relationship in each of the mold sectionswhereby one pair of the additional openings can be employed when fourreceptacle openings are formed in the frame While the other pair ofadditional openings are em ployed when the two central receptacleopenings are added to the frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 134,249 11/ 1942 Button 206721,404,755 1/ 1922 Gay. 2,107,744 2/1938 Solomon. 2,766,919 10/1956Randall 206-72 X 2,771,232 11/1956 Reed 224-48 2,896,829 7/1959 Bright22448 3,142,407 7/1964 Poupitch 220-102 X 3,191,796 6/1965 Schwartz etal. 220--97 FOREIGN PATENTS 498,821 1/1939 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. R. J. SPAR, Assistant Examiner.

